In Washington and Oregon, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of vulnerable families and their children. Grantees provide services such as after-school mentoring for at-risk youth, education and tutoring for homeless children, emergency shelter for adolescents, job training, and abuse-prevention programs.

In addition to community grants, the foundation supports two primary initiatives in the Pacific Northwest. Sound Families is a public-private partnership designed to create 1,500 new housing units plus support services for families in transition out of homelessness in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties. The Community Access to Technology (CAT) program provides access to digital technology through nonprofit organizations that work with underserved populations in Washington.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Community Grants. This past year the foundation made 82 grants to nonprofit organizations that are helping improve the lives of children and families in Washington and Oregon by offering after-school mentoring for at-risk youth, education and tutoring for homeless children, emergency shelter for adolescents, job training, and abuse-prevention programs.
• Challenge Grants. Sixteen area nonprofits that serve children and families successfully completed challenge grants, enabling them to broaden their funding base to provide essential social services.
• Community Access to Technology. The foundation committed $2 million for 16 technology projects in 30 different communities providing persons with disabilities, Native Americans, homeless persons, immigrants, and vulnerable youth greater access to technology information. These 30 locations will join the 125 locations previously funded, which are already serving 32,000 persons annually across Washington state.
• Rural Technology Training. CAT-funded projects enabled 150 rural Washington nonprofit organizations to receive technology training and support in 2002.
• Sound Families. Approximately 2,850 formerly homeless people have safe, stable homes and access to support services through the Sound Families initiative. In addition to funding 380 new housing units this past year, Sound Families provided essential services such as on-site case management, job search and referral services, and tenant education to help people out of homelessness. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also hosted quarterly briefings to raise awareness about regional homelessness and the Sound Families initiative.
• Building Capacity of Grantees. The foundation hosted a communications workshop for regional grantees, providing them tools so they can better tell their story to the greater community, increase their visibility, and broaden their base of support with volunteers and donors.